Chapter 134
## Cassian's POV
"I refuse to give up my mate or our children." My voice came out steady. Cold. "It's not possible. It's not happening."
Casper moved to my side. His arm around Elowen's waist. Pulled her close. Made her a shield between us.
My anger was at a level I hadn't felt since Zero's worst moments. Since the night Leo lost control. Since everything went to hell.
"We won't be pawns in your cosmic game." I looked Selene straight in the eye. "You don't get to play with our lives like this."
Elowen tried to step toward me. Tried to put herself between us and the goddess.
Casper held her tighter.
"Stay behind us, cutie." His voice was gentle. But firm. "We agreed. You stay protected. Always."
"But—" Elowen started.
"No buts!" I didn't look back at her. Kept my eyes on Selene. "We protect you. That's the deal."
Elowen's hand found mine. Squeezed.
Through our bond, I felt her love. Her fear. Her confusion. But also her trust.
She trusted us to handle this. To fight for all of us.
And that trust? That made my heart break. Because how could we choose between her and our babies? Between the woman we loved and the future we'd created together?
"Cassian." Selene's voice cut through my thoughts. "You would be wise to adjust your tone."
Something hot and righteous surged through my chest.
"Adjust my tone?" I took another step forward. "How can you be so cold? So uncaring about the pain you're causing us?"
Selene's eyes narrowed. Just a fraction. Her mouth curved into something that might have been amusement.
And that? That pissed me off even more.
"You think you're blameless in this?" My voice got louder. Harder. "But all I see is a cruel, heartless tyrant."
Casper's hand gripped my arm. Warning. But I shook him off.
"You claim to be the judge of fate. The arbiter of destiny." I gestured at Elowen behind us. At the babies growing inside her. "But you don't care about the lives you're playing with. You're blinded by your own power. Your own arrogance."
The air around Selene shimmered. Her pale skin took on a soft glow. Anger. Real anger.
Good.
"You claim to care about love. About mates. About destiny." I stepped closer. Close enough to see the gold flecks in her eyes. "But you're just bitter. Jealous. Consumed by your own petty desires."
The silence that followed was suffocating.
Elowen's hand tightened on mine. Her pulse hammered against my wrist, rapid and unsteady. But her grip never wavered—fear laced with something fiercer. Love that refused to bend.
"Let me ask you something." I turned slightly. Gestured to Elowen. "Say she gives up the mate bonds to save the twins. How do we know they'll be safe after? How do we know they won't miscarry? Or get hurt?"
"She won't do that!" Casper's voice cut in. Sharp. Protective.
I ignored him. Kept my eyes on Selene.
"Or say Casper and I get hurt. Killed. What was the point of all those sacrifices then?"
Selene's pale skin flushed. Just a little. A soft glow of annoyance creeping across her features. Her mouth curved into a sneer.
The air got thick. Heavy. Like before a storm.
"I always thought you'd be kind. Generous. Understanding." My voice dropped lower. Colder. "But now I see the truth. You're not a goddess of love—you're a tyrant of envy, consumed by what you can never truly possess."
The silence that followed was absolute. Suffocating.
Then I turned my back on her. Looked at Elowen. At Casper.
"I'm done." My voice was flat. Final. "You've disappointed me. I thought you'd be better. But I was wrong."
I walked toward Elowen. Wrapped my arm around her waist. Pulled her against my side.
"We're leaving." I looked at Casper. "Now."
Casper's jaw was tight. His eyes burned with the same fire I felt inside.
He positioned himself on Elowen's other side. His posture just as defiant. Just as rebellious.
We stood together. United. Facing the being that was supposed to guide us. Protect us.
But all I felt was betrayal. Disillusionment. Anger.
The goddess I'd worshipped my whole life? She was just a shadow of what I'd believed. Just an ideal that didn't exist.
And I'd never put my faith in her again. Never trust the whims of the divine over the bonds we'd built ourselves.
Elowen's love washed over me like a wave—unwavering support that steadied my racing heart. Her belief in us blazed brighter than any divine light.
"This ends now!" I roared at Selene.
The Moon Goddess's voice turned to ice. "You dare defy me?! Bringing Austin back requires a great sacrifice! This pack needs him, and the price must be paid! Now you must choose!"
"If your demand is that we give each other up?" Casper shouted. "Then you can dream on!"
I nodded. Firm. Final.
Because we'd made our choice. The only choice that mattered.
Each other. All of us. Always.
I pulled Elowen closer. Felt Casper's shoulder press against mine. The three of us stood there. A united front against divine tyranny.
"You want to know what I think?" My voice rang out clear. Strong. "Our love—our bond—is stronger than any power you wield."
The words hung in the air. Heavy with conviction.
Selene's eyes flashed. Pale gold turning molten. The temperature in the hall dropped. My breath came out in white puffs.
"You think yourselves untouchable?" Her voice was silk over steel. "Above fate itself?"
"I think we're three people who love each other." I met her gaze without flinching. "And no cosmic force—not even you—gets to tear that apart."
Casper's hand found my shoulder. Squeezed. Support. Agreement. Unity.
I saw it in the set of her jaw, in the fierce amber fire of her eyes—fear, yes, but beneath it, a current of unwavering belief in us that stole my breath.
And that made me braver. Stronger. More certain than ever.
"We've faced demons." My voice got quieter. More dangerous. "We've survived betrayal. Loss. Pain. And you know what kept us going? Each other."
I gestured to Elowen. To Casper. To the life growing inside her.
"This family. This bond. It's not some cosmic accident you can unmake with a snap of your fingers. It's ours. We built it. We fought for it. We bled for it."
Selene's laughter crashed through the hall like thunder. The sound made my bones vibrate. Made my teeth ache.
"Such passion!" Her voice dripped with mockery. "Such defiance! But you forget, little wolves—I am the one who granted you these bonds in the first place."
"Then you should understand why we won't give them up." Casper's voice was steady. Calm. But I heard the steel beneath. "You created something beautiful. Something worth fighting for. You should be proud. Not trying to destroy it."
The goddess's smile was sharp. Cruel.
"You think you understand the workings of fate?" She glided closer. The hem of her silver gown didn't touch the ground. "You think your love conquers all?"
"Yes." The word left my mouth without hesitation. "I do."
Silence fell. Thick. Oppressive.
Then Selene laughed again. But this time it wasn't mocking. It was something darker. More dangerous.
"Very well." Her pale gold eyes fixed on each of us in turn. "You think yourselves so strong. So untouchable. So immune to the consequences of defying the divine."
She raised one elegant hand. The air shimmered around her fingers.
"But you are wrong."
The temperature dropped further. A thin layer of frost spread across the surface of the pool, creeping over silver petals and leaves.
"Your defiance will not go unpunished."
Elowen's hand tightened on mine. I felt her fear spike through our bond. Felt Casper's protective instincts flare.
"I will give you twenty-four hours." Selene's voice was soft now. Gentle. Which somehow made it more terrifying. "One day to reconsider your foolish choice."
She looked directly at Elowen. Her pale eyes boring into our mate's amber ones.
"Dear Elowen. I expect to hear your answer by this time tomorrow."
A pause. Weighted. Heavy.
"Choose wisely." The goddess's smile was cold. "Your mate bonds. Or your children. One or the other. There is no third option."
"And if we refuse?" My voice was steady despite the ice forming in my veins.
Selene's smile widened. Showed too many teeth.
"Then I will make the choice for you."
The air around her began to glow. Silver light that hurt to look at directly.
"Twenty-four hours." Her voice echoed. Multiplied. "Not a moment more."
Then she was gone. Vanished in a flash of moonlight that left spots dancing in my vision.